5 Reasons Why Free Weights and Bodyweight Exercises Are Best :

Arthur Jones, inventor of Nautilus fitness equipment passed away recently at the age of 80.

Arthur Jones was the founder of modern-day exercise; he had an incredible ability to create the interface between man and machine by incorporating biomechanics into exercise equipment. (from Nautilus VP Greg Webb)

I have no argument that Jones revolutionized exercise equipment and health clubs. I would make the argument though that the advent of exercise machines has set the fitness industry back, not forward. Machines give the illusion of offering an element of specialization, safety and user-friendliness, but we simply can’t duplicate human movement in a machine - no matter how well-designed.

Here are 5 reasons why dumbbells, barbells, body weight and cables will always rule.

1. Brain-muscle connection
   Free weight and body weight exercises promote neuromuscular development due to the fact that you have to balance the weight – keeping it steady in a free range of motion.
2. Free weight and body weight exercises are far more functional
   This means they translate better into daily activities. For example, lying on your back to perform a leg press does nothing in terms of carry-over into daily life.
3. On a machine, you are conforming to the movement of the machine, not vice versa
   This is counterintuitive for facilitating effective, efficient movement as free weights allow for the subtle and necessary changes in joint positioning.
4. Machines can INCREASE the risk of injury.
   By continually moving a weight in a fixed motion, you can potentially risk overloading joints. While this can also occur with free weights, the movement profile of a machine exacerbates this effect.
5. Free weights are cheaper and take up less space
   You can build a home gym with limited square footage built around dumbbells, barbells and a bench.

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